Symphony Orchestra String Auditions — Autumn

String Audition Information

All returning and prospective members will audition via a submitted video.

  • A live audition option is available on Monday, Aug. 21 for students first learning of the orchestra during Welcome Week. 

Wind and Brass Auditions

Wind and brass auditions are held in conjunction with band auditions. 
 

Instructions for Strings
 

Step 1: Complete the online Audition Form

This step is required. 


Step 2: Access and prepare your musical excerpts

Find the musical excerpts, listed by instrument, below.

Note that some excerpt packets contain selections required for ALL players, as well as some sections that are only for those who wish to be considered for first chair and/or front desk. Pay attention to the sections you are required to prepare. 


Step 3: Prepare and submit your audition video.

Prepare your audition video according to the instructions below. 

 

Email videos to Christopher Dent, ensembles administrator.

DEADLINE: Thursday, Aug. 17

Violins, in particular, are encouraged to submit videos as early as possible so that we can determine whether you will play first or second violin, and distribute parts accordingly so that you will be prepared for the first rehearsal on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Hearing about the symphony orchestra during Welcome Week?

Schedule a live audition.

Any prospective string players learning about the Symphony Orchestra during Welcome Week may audition in person on Monday afternoon, August 21 using the audition materials below. Email Miriam Burns, director of orchestras, to schedule your audition. 

  • Note that our first rehearsal will be Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Musical Excerpts for Step 2

 

All Candidates

  • Anyone, regardless of rank/degree/major, may audition for front desk. You are encouraged to prepare the front desk excerpts specified, if you have the ability.
  • Metronome markings listed are performance tempo. Please take the tempo you are most comfortable with, for accuracy of notes and rhythm.
  • Please listen to various recordings on YouTube to help in your preparation. Here is an excellent one of the entire Brahms Symphony No. 1 which will be on our first concert.

String section seating rotates at the discretion of the conductor and studio faculty, in some cases also including the principal and concertmaster chairs.


Violin

Excerpt packet [pdf]

Prepare a short solo selection of your choice (90 seconds), followed by these excerpts required of ALL violinists:

Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (“New World”)

  • Movement 1:  16 bars after Allegro molto — #2
  • Movement 4:  first page

Brahms Symphony No. 1

  • Movement 2 (Andante sostenuto): opening 17 bars


Players who wish to be considered for the first violin section, in addition to the required excerpts above, ALSO prepare:

Brahms Symphony No. 1

Movement 1:

  • Opening 9 bars (in 6)
  • 4th bar of Allegro to letter B (in 2)
  • Bar 78—bar 105
  • 2 bars before letter E — first ending 

Movement 4:  letter A to letter B


Players who wish to be considered for the front desk, in addition to the required excerpts above, ALSO prepare:

Brahms Symphony No. 1

  • Movement 2, concertmaster solo:  1 bar before letter E to the end (skip the long rests)

Strauss Death and Transfiguration

  • 6 bars after letter G — end of page
  • 12 bars after letter N — end of page


Viola

Excerpt packet [pdf]

Prepare a short solo selection of your choice (90 seconds), followed by these excerpts required of ALL violists:

Brahms Symphony No. 1

  • Movement 1:  bar 157—bar 185 
  • Movement 2: bar 51—letter C

Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (“New World”)

  • Movement 4: 10 bars after #6 — 9 bars after #7       

Strauss Death and Transfiguration

  • 6 bars before letter P — 5 bars after letter S


Cello

Excerpt packet [pdf]

Prepare a short solo selection of your choice (90 seconds), followed by these excerpts required of ALL cellists:

Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (“New World”)

  • Movement 4:  16 bars after rehearsal 9 — 2 bars after 10

Brahms Symphony No. 1, movement 1

  • Poco sostenuto: bars 21–37 (in 6)
  • Allegro: bars 320–352 (in 2) 

Strauss Death and Transfiguration

  • 11 bars before letter E through 17 bars after letter E
  • 7 bars before letter P through 10 bars after letter P


Players who wish to be considered for front desk, continue in the second Strauss excerpt above, additionally preparing:

  • 4 bars before letter Q through 7 bars after letter R


Bass

Excerpt packet [pdf]

Prepare a short solo selection of your choice (90 seconds), followed by these excerpts required of ALL bassists:

Brahms Symphony No. 1

  • Movement 1:   letter E through the first ending, then letter G for 12 bars
  • Movement 2:  8 bars after letter B — 2 bars before letter C
  • Movement 4:   letter D — 5 bars after letter E

Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (“New World”)

  • Movement 2:  pizzicato soli section

Strauss Death and Transfiguration

  • 4 bars before letter E — letter F

Video Audition Technical Information — Step 3


Before you begin — Equipment Check

  • Use whatever video recording device you have at your disposal (video camera, phone, tablet, computer etc.), but select a device that particularly captures the highest quality audio. 
  • When positioning the camera, be sure that you can be seen clearly in the video.
  • Before recording, test the audio level and picture quality of both the device and microphone.


Recording

  • The audition recording is to be one continuous take, with no pauses or edits in any way. 
  • Begin the video with a short personal introduction in which you share:
    • your first and last name
    • year in school this semester (e.g. “second year undergraduate student,” “first year master’s degree student” etc.)
    • your declared major (e.g. “music performance,” “music education,” “engineering” etc.)
    • your hometown (e.g. “Columbus, OH,” “Moorhead, MN” etc.)
    • any desire to participate in chamber music at Ohio State
  • Following your personal introduction, proceed to the excerpts, performing them in the order in which they are listed above. You may take some time between excerpts, but do not stop or pause the recording. Allow the recorder to capture the time you take between excerpts.


Steps to Finalize, Upload and Share Your Video Audition 

  1. View your completed video in its entirety to ensure that it includes all of the required components and your finest quality performance of the required excerpts.
  2. Auditions should be posted as an unlisted video on YouTube or uploaded to a file sharing platform such as OneDrive or Dropbox. Below are links to instructional videos that can help with this process:
  3. Email the working link to your finalized audition video (on YouTube or to the shared folder) to Christopher Dent, ensembles administrator. Please type SYMPHONY AUDITION in the subject line. 

DEADLINE:  Thursday, Aug. 17

Audition Results and First Meeting — A Message from the Director

All students who submit a video audition for the Symphony Orchestra will receive an email notification before August 20. Students who audition live on Monday, Aug. 21 will be informed of their results before Tuesday.  If you do not receive an email by that time, please contact me at burns.1165@osu.edu.

There will be an Orchestra Meeting for all members to discuss the syllabus, programming, all protocols and other important information on the first day of classes, Tuesday, Aug. 22  1:50—2:45 p.m. Location TBA.

I look forward to making music with you all next month!

Professor Burns

[pdf] — Many links above are to PDF files requiring Adobe Reader. If you need them in a more accessible format, please contact us.